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St. Joseph is a mid-sized city of 72,198 in Missouri, with a median household income of $54,515
and a 5.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
St. Joseph stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether St. Joseph is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All St. Joseph city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 87.8
St. Joseph's overall cost of living index is 87.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in St. Joseph costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
St. Joseph, MO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$138,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$854
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
59.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$54,515
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
St. Joseph's violent crime rate is 728.6 per 100,000 residents
— 92% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
728.6 /100k
Property Crime
3850.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
St. Joseph is served primarily by ST. JOSEPH.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
St. Joseph, MO
National Avg
School District
ST. JOSEPH
—
Elementary Schools
13
—
Middle Schools
4
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
22.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
St. Joseph sees average highs of 37.4°F in January
and 88.1°F in July,
with 37.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 21.1 inches of snow per year.
St. Joseph's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes St. Joseph roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $138,100 and median rent is $854/month.
St. Joseph's violent crime rate is 728.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3850.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in St. Joseph are operated by ST. JOSEPH.
The district has 13 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 22.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
St. Joseph, MO has a population of 72,198, a median household income of $54,515, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
St. Joseph averages 37.4°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.5 inches
with about 21.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
St. Joseph, MO is covered by 6 ZIP codes: 64506, 64503, 64507, 64504, 64505, 64501.
The population of St. Joseph, Missouri is 72,198 with a median age of 37.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in St. Joseph: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $138,100, median household income $54,515, crime index 188 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare St. Joseph side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
